Happy Birthday, Lynn

Today I wish to post a tribute to my friend Lynn, whom I have never met.  For years she only barely existed for me in the form of her husband’s name and address in my little address book.  I’ve never met him, either.  The only reason his name made its way into my address book is because he and I are both genealogists who have done digging into my paternal line.  We found each other quite by happenstance.  We have a great-great ( I don’t know how many greats) grandfather in common.  Without even knowing me, he sent me a huge manila envelope stuffed full of copies of the research he’d done on our line.  All I had to offer in return was a photograph of my grandfather on a ship.

Each time I moved, I sent Fred a little note advising of my new address and each time I changed ISPs, I sent an email advising of my new email address.  That’s it.  He was just my anonymous, very distantly related cousin out in California.

And then I started the blog.  I sent a postcard to everyone in my address book.

Fred’s wife, Lynn, took a look at said blog.

Now we are friends.  She shares with me photos from her garden, photos keeping me abreast of her crocheting and knitting projects, her sewing, her new quilting classes!  She is forever encouraging me and helping me believe in myself as a writer.

The internet is an amazing thing.  Friendship is a God thing.  Grace.  You never know when or where or how it’s going to happen.

Happy birthday, my friend!